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2011

Proper lighting in every room is essential and it affects the entire look of the room. Every item placed in a room should complement every other item, so make sure you select lighting and accessories with the same importance that you have chosen your furniture.

The following guidelines will help you decide on the best lighting options for your room to provide the illumination it needs to look its very best!

Use a variety of lighting in each room.Ambient light provides overall illumination usually from ceiling fixtures. Task lighting illuminates areas for activities such as reading and cooking. Accent lighting highlights special features like artwork and architecture. Dimmer Switches

Finding the right style. Geometric shapes and clean lines are more masculine in feel and lend themselves to a contemporary look. Round and curvy lines are more feminine and traditional. A combination of shapes such as the three overhead counter fixtures shown below (slightly rounded top with a square bottom) are transitional and easily blend with any style.

Determining the size of a foyer chandelier. Add the length and width of the foyer in feet (the perimeter of an 8' square foyer would be 32' ). Convert that number into inches to determine the width of the chandelier (32" diameter). Allow at least 84" of space between the floor and the bottom of the chandelier.

Bathroom fixtures and placement.

The best lighting for a bathroom where you will be applying makeup or shaving comes from wall sconces on each side of the mirror placed at a height of 60"-65". Optimum lighting includes an overhead ceiling fixture that illuminates the whole room.

Placing lighting at the correct height. Here is a quick list of general height guidelines:

Kitchen pendants need to clear the head of the tallest family member and are generally placed 36" to 48" above the counter.

Chandeliers hanging over a table are placed approximately 36" above the table.

A bedside lamp should be placed to allow a space of 16"-18" from the top of the mattress to the bottom of the shade to prevent glare when reading. (*Bedside tables should be as high as the top of the mattress).

Table lamps and floor lamps should have an average (give or take 2") overall height of 60" including finial. That means if your table height is 28", your lamp height would be 32". This rule works with the bedroom lamps as well.